We explored the piezoelectric behavior of diphenylalanine (FF) peptide using multiphysics finite element models. We compared the piezoelectric potential developed in a finite element model of an FF peptide nanowire with the potential developed in conventional piezoelectric materials. The simulation showed that the FF peptide nanowire can generate significantly higher voltage than nanowires made from piezoelectric materials such as zinc oxide, lead zirconate titanate, and barium titanate under the same force. The simulation work was expanded to create a complete model of a flexible nanogenerator based on FF peptide microrods. Based on the piezoelectric potentials calculated in the nanogenerator model, we estimated an open circuit voltage for the FF nanogenerator. To validate the model, we fabricated and demonstrated the first flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator based on vertical arrays of FF peptide microrods. We characterized the electrical behavior of the fabricated nanogenerators, and measured an open circuit voltage of up to − 0.6 V. The estimated open circuit voltage predicted by the model was in close agreement with the measured value from the fabricated nanogenerator. The results illustrate the promising potential of FF peptide as a piezoelectric material, and show the importance of finite element models for providing insight into the development of a new generation of FF peptide-enabled devices.

我们使用多物理场有限元模型探索了二苯丙氨酸（FF）肽的压电行为。我们将FF肽纳米线的有限元模型中开发的压电电势与常规压电材料中开发的电势进行了比较。仿真显示，FF肽纳米线在相同的力下可以产生比由压电材料（例如氧化锌，锆钛酸铅和钛酸钡）制成的纳米线更高的电压。扩展了仿真工作，以创建基于FF肽微棒的柔性纳米发生器的完整模型。基于纳米发电机模型中计算出的压电势，我们估算了FF纳米发电机的开路电压。为了验证模型，我们制造并展示了第一款基于FF肽微棒垂直阵列的柔性压电纳米发电机。我们表征了制造的纳米发电机的电性能，并测量了高达-0.6 V的开路电压。模型预测的估计开路电压与制造的纳米发电机的测量值非常吻合。结果说明了FF肽作为压电材料的潜在潜力，并显示了有限元模型对于提供洞察力的新一代FF肽设备的发展的重要性。该模型预测的估计开路电压与制造的纳米发电机的测量值非常吻合。结果说明了FF肽作为压电材料的潜力，并显示了有限元模型对于提供深入了解新一代FF肽功能器件的发展的重要性。该模型预测的估计开路电压与制造的纳米发电机的测量值非常吻合。结果说明了FF肽作为压电材料的潜力，并显示了有限元模型对于提供深入了解新一代FF肽功能器件的发展的重要性。